Christmas at Home

Thursday
January 7, 2016

Around Thanksgiving I began to get really homesick for family and friends, and yes, it did take 5 months for that to happen because I have been having such a good time on the road. So this 3 week break spent at home was just in time. Left the Doodle in a Miami hotel parking lot and flew home.

Great to see everyone at a

big family Christmas party at Shelly and Trav's

Tammy and Kris,

Brandon and Jarad

Pandemonium

Me with brother Mike as Santa

Hey Santa, what about your 'stache?!

More Christmas at Lisa and Michael's on Christmas Day:

Michael hard at work preparing our Christmas feast.  Lisa watching.

She is afraid of knives (they're sharp) and the stove (it's hot), but does a good job of cleaning up.

Here Michael prepares our Lobster Ravioli in Brandy Cream Sauce. 

Our six course menu was fit for a four star restaurant.

It's great having foodies in the family.

 Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest

grand kids Dylan, Emily and Ty

Pontiers and Planes out for some
 holiday dress up fun

Digesting dinner before diving into presents

Catching up with friend 

Patt Houston in Willow Glen

Saw so many friends while home, wish I had taken more pix.

I think of the Doodlebug often.
I wonder if it thinks of me...

Crossing the elegant new Bay Bridge which connects Berkeley to San Francisco.

The exciting culture of art and food here in the Bay area can't be beat.

Bobbie and I are headed for the DeYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park to see an
exhibit of art from the
1915 Pan Pacific Exhibition.
It's hard to believe the City got itself together in just 9 years after the 1906 earthquake to create so many beautiful buildings for this exhibit.

Afterward we have lunch at the Beach Chalet on the Great Highway. I had a Beet Burger. That's
right, a burger made of beets that was very pink and quite delicious.
The lobby here is filled with Parisian artist Lucien Laboudt's 1926 mural of San Franciscans at the beach.

Closer to New Year's we celebrate at Opa! in Willow Glen with Michael before Ty takes off back to Park City.

Lisa is seeing double.



Back to some nice 80 degree Floridays now.  It's been in the 50's here. I'm ready for warmth.